High Strength High Carbon Low Alloy Pearlite-Ferrite-Tempered Martensite Steels

High strength multiphase steels have been developed consisting of combination of pearlite, tempered martensite and small amount of ferrite, by suitable heat treatment of a high carbon low alloy rail steel (0.7 % C). The desired microstructure has been obtained by holding fully homogenized steel in pearlitic range for small durations followed by water quenching and subsequent tempering at 773 K for 18 h. Variation in mechanical properties has been studied with the change in volume fraction of different phases. Yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation are observed to be in the range of 500–1,000 MPa, 900–1,185 MPa and up to 16.8 %, respectively. Continuous and discontinuous yielding along with substantial work hardening has been explained as a function of tempered martensite content.